Top Ten Thursdays: Best MMORPGs in the Philippines
Here we go again, focusing on online games in the Philippines. Well, look at it this way, you’ll get insights from first-hand experience, courtesy of yours truly. I’m sure that the games I’ll mention in this week’s Top Ten Thursdays are available in your area as well.
So, without further ado, I bring you the Ten Best MMORPGs in the Philippines and what makes them popular:
Perfect World
What I like about this game: Stunning graphics, especially if you’re playing on a high-end computer (read: Intel Core2Duo, at least 1GB memory and 512MB graphics card); captivating sound effects and background music (BGM); Well-developed character selection, from tankers to nukers; Interesting gameplay thanks for quest-based experience system (less grind for equal action); unique (well, nearly unique) clan war system, and full character customization, from facial features to fashion.
What I don’t like about this game: Lots of bugs, particularly in maps and with some NPCs, still need to be worked out; lack of item mall restrictions especially in the sale and use of loudspeakers (which allow world broadcast) opens large avenues to abuse; and weak GM support.
Lineage II
What I like about this game: Good visuals, attention to detail, from character movement to background color; challenging gameplay makes players think more than the usual hack-and-slash game; and broad choices for character customization through stat and skill distribution.
What I don’t like about this game: The grinding, or spending countless hours hacking at monsters for minute amounts of experience points; gameplay isn’t intuitive (although it can be considered positive, some players want to think less and play more); and lack of guides, especially for newbie players who want to learn more about the game.
Granado Espada
What I like about this game: Crisp graphics, enough to make your eyes water; immersive background music sets the mood for trips to the nearest dungeon; innovative gameplay, particularly the auto-kill feature that allows your characters to level while you’re away from the keyboard; and playing an entire party instead of just one character lends a whole new dimension to online gaming.
What I don’t like about this game: Despite eye-catching graphics, player characters look the same; micro-management, since you simply can’t point and click expecting the two other characters you have to fend off the mobs hurting the lead character; auto-kill system is mind-dulling.
Fly For Fun
What I like about this game: Cartoony characters and settings elicits reactions from the child in me; partying is advantageous to players as it not only gives more experience points but also beneficial skills that affect the entire party; and interesting job and skill trees.
What I don’t like about this game: Server-wide player-kill setting destroys initial enthusiasm of some players; still a grinding game, kill more monsters, earn more experience points; cartoony characters, although interesting to play, look out-of-place when pitted against one another in PK combat.
Rising Force Online
What I like about this game: Playing a robotic character is appealing; mind-boggling graphics, especially when played on high-end PCs; intuitive gameplay makes adjusting from another online game easier; usage-based skill leveling gives players more options for customizing characters; and the war among races, instead of just factions, lends an entirely new concept to teamwork and community.
What I don’t like about this game: Characters of different races can’t cooperate since they have different missions (this proves disastrous for couples who want to play different races); and stronger characters go on power trips, killing weaker players using a mall item that allows PK.
Ran Online
What I like about this game: Interesting storyline, using schools instead of races to draw the lines of conflict; in-game cash flows easily, so earning while leveling isn’t really much of a problem; and stat-based skill trees make character customization enjoyable as players are goaded into exploring different possibilities.
What I don’t like about this game: Graphics need improvement as character movement seems mechanical; map navigation problematic as some areas, especially those that have different levels (floors), seem two dimensional; sound effects and background music are in some instances non-existent; and jobs or classes are gender-locked, making it impossible to play a female swordie and brawler, or a male archer and magic-user.
Tantra Online
What I like about this game: The game’s name is in itself interesting; lots of races to choose from; cool graphics even if played on PCs with average specs; and large maps that are sure to provide endless hours of fun to explorers.
What I don’t like about this game: Gameplay isn’t for newbie players who are left struggling in the initial stages of the game; grinding of experience points gets tedious past character level 20; and the slow flow of in-game cash into player coffers leave much to be desired.
MU Online
What I like about this game: Diablo-esque graphics and gameplay appeals to my retro-gamer self.
What I don’t like about this game: Diablo-esque graphics and gameplay turns off players who want more freedom of movement and customization features.
Supreme Destiny
What I like about this game: Interesting gameplay features such as the ability to ride pets and the challenging newbie quest.
What I don’t like about this game: Weak graphics compared to other online games in this day and age; jobs or classes are also gender-locked; and items that lure players to the game, such as pets, cost too much.
Ragnarok Online
What I like about this game: Staying power (being the first MMORPG hit does have its advantages); strong community support (once you have friends or a network of comrades, your character will always get help); and easy-to-understand gameplay.
What I don’t like about this game: Two words—graphics (2D) and grinding (hard to level).
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POSTED IN: Asian MMO, Asian MMO Players, Fly For Fun, Granado Espada, Lineage II, MMORPG, MMORPG Videos, MU Online, My World, Perfect World, RF Online, Ragnarok Online, Ran Online, Supreme Destiny, Tantra Online, Top Ten Thursdays
29 opinions for Top Ten Thursdays: Best MMORPGs in the Philippines
Gyl
Jan 15, 2008 at 11:16 am
Woah.. I’m quite surprised to see Granado Espada made it to your top 10 list. It’s not that I don’t like the game (heck I even run a blog about it), I’m just surprised. I don’t know if it is just me but I think Granado Espada got a weak fan base goin in the Philippines too bad this game is really wonderful.. In fact it’s quite perfect for busy people.
Jeoffrey
Feb 24, 2008 at 8:31 pm
from the list,i like Perfect World the m0st..
Jomar
Mar 14, 2008 at 11:10 pm
i think you made a mistake… i don’t agree that MU online should be on the list… Ragnarok online, though it’s just 2D, is better that MU. Mu Online is just a trash game created by mobius.
Joel
Mar 15, 2008 at 7:25 am
Actually, MU Online was developed by Webzen Inc., not Mobius, the game’s publisher.
I included it in the Top 10 because it still draws the youngest segment of the MMORPG market, at least in the Philippines.
I have yet to encounter an Internet gaming cafe that doesn’t have MU Online installed. Similarly, I haven’t encountered an Internet gaming cafe that doesn’t have at least one person playing MU Online.
ksha
Mar 23, 2008 at 4:06 am
i agree that MU should be in the top 10. @ jomar please play MU before saying it’s a trash. you don’t know what you are saying,
most MU players are professionals and college students with extra money to pay, its PAY TO PLAY.
ann
Mar 28, 2008 at 8:26 am
hmm granado? cool graphics but auto-leveling is quite disappointing… not so far from a BOT hehe
tropa214
Apr 1, 2008 at 11:30 am
i dont agree with some comments especially on the mu online..its probably the second online game to be released nxt 2 ragnarok..i’ve played almost all online games available in d phil..and a diablo addict,.before online games emerge..and i didnt even realized dat mu’s graphics is like diablo??/ i think its about the environment,the theme and the story of the game..and what’s wrong with that??its still a rockin game to play!!unlike ragnarok..even if it’s d first??it still sucks!!2d graphics..ugly characters,childish graphics,ugly or sometimes ear bugging sound effects “wapahackkk!!”duh!!what kind of sound effects is that??..its like playing an online cartoons..well’,.. if you’ll notice..the cartoons in their posters are better than the cartoons in the game itself!!i don’t know why they still keep on playing dis childish and weird game.. the poring is cute though..hehe what is that??a live jelly-ace??thats my favorite food as a child!!hahahaha
Ian
Apr 12, 2008 at 2:02 am
hmm.. Im a PW player and its really cool..
but one thing is bad there.. if there is a high level player already they will just invade and invade territories leaving the noob players no territories to be invaded.. and even though noobs can challenge the owners of the territories I doubt that they can win against a high level clan there,, so the gameplay is very good but the territorial wars are good only for power-players or ADIK mode ALWAYS players ^^ (sorry for my bad english) ^^
Joel
Apr 12, 2008 at 7:30 am
@Ian
You have a point. But remember that all clans—and players for that matter—started out as lowbies. Determination and experience give these powerful players and clans the right to own territories.
There have been instances, however, where low-level clans took over the territories of established clans. The technique is to bid in conjunction with other clans. This will force the defending clan to choose which territory to defend.
Of course, the more powerful the clan, the more powerful its members. So expect strong opposition even from a handful of players from the defending clan.
Also remember that strategy plays a big role in territorial wars. Brush up on military tactics. I recommend starting with Sun Tzu’s Art of War. :)
Marlon Yu
Apr 29, 2008 at 5:45 am
AuditionPH should be included.
Joel
Apr 29, 2008 at 6:19 am
@Marlon Yu
Well, yeah, I would’ve included AuditionPH, but since the list was about MMORPGs and not MMOs, I opted to exclude some locally published titles like your Audition, O2Jam and Freestyle.
romeo
Apr 30, 2008 at 1:56 am
ha! no one has a problem on flyff great! flyff is deserving in the top ten
Paris
May 3, 2008 at 9:36 am
Nothing beats Ragnarok Online. I’m talking about the game :)
I don’t mind it being in a 2D environment, I get nauseous on 3Ds
Maerks
May 13, 2008 at 12:04 am
hmm… why some people diss out Ragnarok online? to comment about it Ragnarok being the most widely accepted “FIRST” Online MMORPG game after Ultima Online [please search it ^^] me as a gamer and to be the first to experience it from beta testing to official commercial launching, all i can say is “WOW” [not World of Warcraft ^^]. to those who have anticipated and played from beta to commercial release i think they’ll say the same thing as i do cause Ragnarok paved the way for other NEW and upcoming mmorpg. Most games today ferived their game basics on Ragnarok online and arguably Ultima Online. Without Ro i think Online games in asia would never reach this Level. ^^ as for the other online games, those having a pc of low spec will have a difficulty playing it. hmm… i think that’s all for today :)
kimat
May 17, 2008 at 4:23 am
can i add something on ran online? another feature worth mentioning there is the party system. at higher levels (i think beginning 30 or 40) it is necessary for one to get into parties in order to level-up, which may be a cause for misgivings or friendships (more of the former than the latter in my opinion).
perhaps another thing that can be a gauge for good mmorpgs is the presence of bots. ran and rf (presently), as far as i know, do not have bot-operated characters (the latter does have lots of bugs). what disenchanted me from revisiting RO and tantra is the presence of bots.
could someone comment on bots about the other games? thanks.
sashjira
May 24, 2008 at 2:11 am
for me mu is still the best for me! Im a college student! ksha is correct we the college student and my professors play that game b’coz mu is more on tactics and technics and brain breaker! this game is only for the people who have a high iq!!!!! gets!! this is not a childs game
beppo
Jun 22, 2008 at 9:41 am
@sashjira
Ha, I’m a college student too, but in our area, MU Online is a dying game. Most of the cafes here in our area have already uninstalled the game; it just doesn’t have the same pull it had back then.
Oh yeah, and please don’t try to insinuate that MU is only for intellectuals. I’ve met a lot of idiotic people in that game, as well as every other game I’ve come across. Strategy and planning is not exclusive to MU; even in RO (I think this is the game you’re referring to as “childish”), hardcore strategizing is required to win.
Next time, think before you comment.
blink
Jun 27, 2008 at 3:55 am
Play Cabal… You’ll love it!
Joel
Jun 28, 2008 at 1:59 am
Cabal? Well, personally, I think it sucks. Yeah, it was fun at first … exciting really, seeing your character swish his or her blade with the distortion effect … but that’s all she wrote. Limited maps and character customization hurt the game a lot in this day and age when exploration of new frontiers is a must.
Kimat Stormrider
Jun 29, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I kind of agree with Joel on this. played Cabal for more than a week during the goldhack problem at RF. perhaps the only thing that would draw me into playing Cabal is the fact that it is new, and hence better chances of going up the ranks. But still, a friend of mine (who happens to have already reached the lvl100 cap) sez u have to play it until ur bout lvl60 or so to really appreciate the game’s appeal.
Joel
Jun 30, 2008 at 2:04 am
Well, if you don’t have time to grind all the way to Level 60, you’ll probably just leave the game and find some other virtual world to romp in. It’s a visually appealing world, no doubt … but that’s about it. Some features are good, but the overall package isn’t really worth my time, IMHO, of course.
________nancygrL
Jul 9, 2008 at 12:23 am
I agree with Joel..CABAL online is not that interesting. With respect to other Online Games/Players, I also appreciate the style of the game but I really prefer RAN Online above all other Online Games here in the Phil. Simply because it is so Unique and Simple itself..Remember F4??or Meteor Garden??It suddenly boomed here in Philippines..Why??because the story is really easy to understand and the flow is unique..Actually I’m not an F4 fanatic during that time..hihihi!!But the point is I easily understand though I just had a glimpse of it. Just like it, RAN Online is really easy to get with and play. No BOTS or any cheats. BTW, just an update, gender-lock on all classes are now unlocked ^_^..Thanks!!
Kimat Stormrider
Jul 13, 2008 at 8:50 pm
i really would’ve stayed in ran had it not become so darn expensive and too dependent on party-levelling.. it kind of gets hard especially for us who can only allot limited time to gaming (work stuff and all). though yeah, character planning (stats and skills), i give it all to ran.:)
________nancygrL
Jul 14, 2008 at 12:39 am
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Yeahh!!I also have work so I leave the levelling up on my Pilots^_^..Yes it’s also true that it is expensive why I also hate this before, but when you get the right strategy, I’m quite sure you’ll not spend a single cent on this game ^_^..
romzzzz
Jul 15, 2008 at 3:09 am
ran? one of the worst game i saw.. wew.. probably students who like to skip for school play this one..
maybe it didn’t impress me a lot coz of its graphics.. (just my opnion) i prefer playing cabal and special force.. but what i hate about a game are the cheaters (bot user, glitchers, etc..)
________nancygrL
Jul 16, 2008 at 10:33 pm
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Weew…Anyway this is a free country…Any opinion is fine..But what you speak is what you are.. ^_^ hahaha!!
Rikov
Jul 19, 2008 at 4:11 am
guys, why they did not include Ragnarok Online? in my opinion RO is the best, i still prefer RO than RF.. RF has so many creepy crawling “BUGS” you know what i mean.. i hope they can fix it, i also luv the game..
Joel
Jul 20, 2008 at 6:55 am
Hi, Rikov. Where exactly did we not include Ragnarok Online? It’s in the list:
Maybe you forgot to scroll all the way down while reading the article. Or maybe you forgot to scroll all the way up to read the first few comments. :P
________nancygrL
Jul 21, 2008 at 2:37 am
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Ahihihihi!!Nice 1 ^_^
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